’Tis the season for giving

Marines and other participants in last year's Toys for Tots Drive at Ramona Airport stand with just some of the donations.

Marines and other participants in last year's Toys for Tots Drive at Ramona Airport stand with just some of the donations. (Sentinel file)

Maureen Robertson

Everyone from children of active-duty military to individuals and families in need will benefit from the numerous toy and food drives in Ramona this month.

Toys for Tots at Ramona Airport

For the 11th year, Ramona resident and pilot Martin Wood is spearheading the Toys for Tots drive at Ramona Airport.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9, toys will arrive from the air and ground as pilots land their planes at Ramona Airport at 2926 Montecito Road with their cargo of toys and area residents arrive in vehicles with their donations.

Marines will be decked out in full dress uniform to greet and thank the donors, and Wood, CEO of Delkin Devices in Poway, and his Delkin Devices elves will serve hamburgers with all the fixings.

“Don’t deny the tots this year,” Wood said in the latest of his email requests for donations. “The joy in a little boy or girl’s face when they realize this gift is for them is priceless.”

Each year that Wood has joined the county and Marines in hosting the event he has set the bar higher. This year’s goal is $40,000.

“We are at $21,959.37,” he reported Monday afternoon. “… No pressure! If we don’t get to our goal, I will be out at the supermarket with a box, so please save me and give today. Help a kid, support the Marines, and it is all tax-deductible.”

Wood, the Marines and airport elves will accept unwrapped new toys and cash donations during the four-hour event at the airport viewing area. All are invited to watch take-offs and landings, view static displays of vintage military aircraft and military trucks, and talk with Ramona American Graffiti cruisers, who will bring their classic cars to the event.

Donations are accepted at Ramona Food & Clothes Closet and at Ramona businesses that have donation boxes near their front doors. Families applied for the program last week, with the last applications accepted on Dec. 7 from 5 to 7 p.m. at RFCC headquarters.

Toy and food distribution will be on Friday, Dec. 15. For more information, call 760-789-4458 or visit foodandclothescloset.org.

Volunteers needed

Ramona Food & Clothes Closet needs volunteers on Saturday, Dec. 9, at 9:30 a.m. to help put the holiday food boxes together for RFCC’s Share Your Christmas program. Volunteers will meet at RFCC, 773 Main St. Park in the back parking lot and come through the employee gate. Vesna Curry, RFCC manager, asks that those planning to volunteer call 760-789-4458 to let her know they will participate.

Toy drive for military families

Realtor Justin Shaw’s Ramona IN60 and Ramona Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3783 are partnering to collect new unwrapped toys for children of active-duty military families in Ramona. Ramona Sentinel at 850 Main St., Suite 106, is one of four drop-off locations for toys for children ages infant to 18. Other drop-off locations are Re/Max Direct at 1410 Main St., the Ramona VFW Post at 2247 Kelly Ave., and Ramona Family Dentistry at 425 10th St.

Donations will be accepted through Dec. 15. For more information about the drive or to arrange a drop-off or pickup, contact Shaw at 858-775-6251.

Kamps Holiday Food Drive

Kamps Propane at 1000 Olive St. is doing more to support the Ramona Food & Clothes Closet Holiday Food Drive than accepting donations -- it is offering propane as an incentive to help reach its goal of 500 pounds/1,000 cans of food. Those bringing $10 worth of nonperishable food with a receipt will receive $20 in propane. Those donating $20 of food with a receipt will receive $40 in propane.

More information about Kamps’ campaign is at 760-789-7079 or kampspropane.com.

Benefit Christmas Show

Olive Peirce Middle School student Alexavia Zetterberg will present a Christmas Show in Ramona Town Hall, 729 Main St., at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9. In addition to entertainment, the show — held to benefit families in need — will feature a silent auction and bake sale. Admission is free.

All proceeds will go to buy gifts to help families in need have a better Christmas, said Alexavia, who has been hosting holiday drives since she was a student in James Dukes Elementary School. Anyone knowing a family in need may message Alexavia on Facebook.

Paper Plate Campaign

Ramona Senior Center is conducting its annual Paper Plate Campaign to benefit the center and the seniors who use it. A $50 donation feeds 10 seniors for a day; $100 feeds 20 seniors for a day; and $155 will feed one senior for one month, including weekends. Donations may be made online at ramonaseniorcenter.com, brought to the center, or mailed — with checks payable to Ramona Meals on Wheels — to Ramona Senior Center, 434 Aqua Lane, P.O. Box 657, Ramona, CA 92065.